Economic Indicators
Economic indicators provide a snapshot of the economy’s health. Just as a doctor checks the vital signs of a patient, an economist might check the vital signs of the economy by looking at gross domestic product (GDP), consumer price index (CPI) or the unemployment rate. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the policy-making body of the Federal Reserve System, examines many economic indicators prior to determining monetary policy. The indicators available through the following links are examples of some of the factors the FOMC considers before issuing its directives on monetary policy.
